Význam a funkce výročních obyčejů v činnosti spolku, jednotlivce a lokálního společenství (na příkladu dvou jihovalašských obcí)

While in the past customs and rituals formed completely natural part of people’s lives, as the old social structure fell apart, the original groups of bearers of community customs (young people working on the farms, recruits, etc.) disappeared and had to be replaced by organized bodies such as voluntary fire brigades. When some of the old traditions vanished, the need arose for new cultural elements to be created. thus organizations inspired by the legacy of their ancestors started their activities focused on saving residues of local traditional culture. Folk culture has a unique ability to represent people. This happens on three levels: communal, club and individual. Communities use traditional culture to express their uniqueness and belonging to an ethnographic region. The second level relates first of all to voluntary fire brigades for whom traditional events mean chances to take active part in the retention of annual customs, to show themselves in the most festive manner, and to raise money for their own activities as well as for public purposes. Individual efforts to keep traditions and to participate in creation of local identity constitute the third level. What makes people retain and renew old customs is the need to socialize, to share community values that distinguish them from other groups. Traditional culture is a source of self-identification and representation.